Insert array shoes, sandals and detachable showcases

ABSTRACT

A shoe or sandal with a transparent plastic film visible display permanent pouch or detachable showcase, constructed to receive, retain and display interchangeable inserts. These INSERT ARRAY blanks provide for Do It Yourself heat or pressure sensitive adhesive applications, or can be Pre Customized fashion designs, both with quick and easy in and out insertion and replacement, thereby changing the appearance of said shoe or sandal to exactly match or coordinate with like color or design with a variety of fashionable ensembles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to fashion shoes and sandals for women. More particularly, the invention relates to shoes and sandals which are provided with means to alter the decorative appearance thereof so as, if desired, to selectively change the appearance of the shoes or sandals or to match in design the fashion statement made by the other clothing of the woman wearing such shoes or sandals, in stabilized constructs.

2. Description of Prior Art

For countless years women's shoes and sandals have been an integral part of the fashion statement made through the entire ensemble of clothing worn by women. For the most part, the matching by fashion conscious women of outer clothing components and shoes and sandals in color and/or design has required a specific pair of shoes or sandals approximately coordinating the clothing color and/or designs and thereby precluding the wearing of such shoes or sandals with other clothing ensembles. Thus, today's fashion conscious women frequently have to obtain a vast variety of shoes and sandals being worn occasionally with a particular clothing combination. Further, because of the season-to-season and year-to-year changes in women's dress fashions, women's shoes and sandals very often become obsolete long before they have, shown use wear. Today's economy requires conservation and reuseables.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide women's shoes and sandals having means for displaying an interchangeable series of fashion design inserts for the topmost portions and straps of such shoes and sandals for color and/or imprint design coordination thereof with the other clothing items of a woman's total clothing ensemble, precisely matched.

It is another object of the invention to provide women's shoes and sandals with means in a topmost portion and straps thereof for inserting, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts matching in color and/or design the other clothing items of a woman's total clothing ensemble.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide women's shoes and sandals with transparent pouch means in the upper portions and straps thereof for receiving, retaining, and displaying a variety of interchangeable fashion coordinating inserts of color and/or imprint design matching in color and/or imprint design the other clothing items of a woman's clothing ensemble, in an exact millimeter figured pouch.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide women's shoes and sandals with pouch means in the topmost portions and straps thereof for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion inserts bearing fabrics matching in color and/or print or weave designs the color and/or print or weave designs of the fabrics of other clothing items of a woman's clothing ensemble, providing easy in-out access.

Another object of the invention is to provide interchangeable color and/or design inserts for retention and display in transparent pouch areas of the topmost portions and straps of women's shoes and sandals with such inserts matching and coordinated in fashionable array the other clothing items making up a woman's total clothing ensemble, using recycled scraps.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a variety of interchangeable color and/or design inserts for transparent attachable showcases on matched portions and straps for women's shoes and sandals with such inserts matching in fashionable array the variety of clothing items making up a woman's wardrobe and with such attachable-detachable male stud snap-ons around the showcase frame, matched to female stud snap-ins framing the shoes longitudinal strip area of display.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following summary and detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to women's fashion shoes and sandals which are provided with means to quickly and effectively alter the decorative color and design appearance thereof so as, if desired, to selectively change the appearance of the shoes or sandals or to match in coordinating manner the fashion statement made by the variety of clothing of the woman wearing such shoes or sandals. In accordance with the invention women's shoes and sandals are provided in their visible upper and/or strap areas with pouch means for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts. The pouch means are comprised of an outer layer of transparent plastic film material of appropriate configuration intimately affixed to the visible sandal top strap areas or with an attach/detach vinyl showcase of exact aligned stud snap-ons.

Each pouch or showcase means is provided with an opening through which the interchangeable fashion design inserts may be placed within the pouch and retained therein by frictional proximity of the transparent plastic film material or by insert retaining pouch closure means. Pouch or showcase closure means may include Velcro hook and loop strips, heat molded tongue and groove strips, button-type snap fasteners, or tuck-in folds of the film material. A preferred transparent film material is lightweight gauge durable vinyl plastic film. However, other plastic film material may be utilized in construction of shoe and sandal pouch areas. Such film materials may be sewn into the shoe and sandal structures at appropriate connections or may be otherwise appropriately framed by the leather or fabric to provide abutment side guides for insert arrays entry and subsequent firm lodging within the affixed pouch or detachable showcase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a woman's gladiator style sandal with means, in accordance with the present invention, for displaying via a topmost upper designed insert array pouch for interchangeable inserts presenting a multiplicity of decorative fashion designs:

FIG. 1 a. is an enlarged transverse section view of the designer insert pouch of the sandal of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken on line 10-10 FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the woman's gladiator style sandal of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 a. is an enlarged section view of a longitudinal portion of the designer detachable showcase of the sandal of FIG. 2 taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 2;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring initially to the FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a woman's multi banded gladiator style shoe and the invention. FIG. 1. Comprises a top right perspective view of a woman's gladiator style sandal 1 having a topmost designer insert array pouch or showcase 8 for receiving interchangeable inserts 9A presenting multiplicity of decorative fashion designs for coordinating the fashion statement made by the wearer's entire clothing and sandal ensemble. The sandal 1 is comprised of a sole member 2, including a forefoot portion 2A and a heel portion 3A, a heel member 3 a forefoot retaining band 4 instep retaining straps 4A and 4B, a rear foot retaining portion 5, buckled ankle wrap straps 5A and 5B, and as shown a lifted back heel portion 6 that positions the buckled ankle wrap straps 5A and straps 5B further stabilizing the top entry pocket of the insert array pouch or showcase member 8 longitudinally interconnecting with the buckled ankle wrap straps 5A and 5B that goes through a back slit 7, pulls out and goes across the top ankle of the wearer's foot and buckles on the outer side. Member 8 then interconnects with instep straps 4A and 4B, that then interconnects with the forefoot retaining band or strap 4, ending at that juncture.

All the cross straps or bands can be equipped with buckles as shown on 5A and 5B, affording a separate showcase that, instead of being permanently interconnected, is interconnected by slipping the openable straps through a back slit or channel opening behind the showcase. As shown with ankle straps 5A or 5B, pulled through 7 that then buckles the longitudal member into the exact same location as shown.

The forefoot retaining band 4 of sandal 1 is approximately affixed by known means at its outer end portion and instep end portion 4A and 4B to the outer edges of the forefoot portion 2A of sole member 2. The rear foot retaining portion is appropriately affixed by known means at its outer anchor end portion 5.

As an integral unit the insert array pouch of showcase member 8 of the sandal 1 is affixed to the ankle strap 5A and 5B and forefoot band 4 and instep strap 4A and 4B and in one embodiment is fabricated as illustrated. Pouch member 8 includes an upper transparent of sheet plastic material and a lower layer of shoe fabrication material.

As shown in FIG. 1 the designer insert 9A is comprised of an insert backing piece or insert blank 9, see FIG. 1A, to which is affixed designer material coordinated as to color and/or printed or woven design with the clothing items to be worn with the sandal 1.

The designer material may be affixed to the backing piece 9 by any appropriate preferred transparent film including but not limited to, adhesives, iron-on and pressure sensitives, depending upon the nature of what is to be made integral with the insert blank. Do it yourself customizations, if kept wafer thin, see FIG. 1A, can include but are not limited to; paintings, sewings, stitchings, appliqué sew-ons, ribbons or salvaged vintage or sew basket scraps as all are combinable medium on the designer piece with minimum effort and maximum displayable results.

In FIG. 1A there is illustrated via an enlarged transverse section view taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 1 of the designer insert and pouch or showcase. The structure of the insert array pouch member 8 is maintained by edge stitching 8E which if permanently affixed extends through the edge of spacer member 8D and affixes the peripheral edge of the upper transparent layer 8A to the peripheral edge of the lower layer 8B and extends through the rolled edge portions 8C of the upper layer 8A.

Shown is a picture frame effect of the insert array pouch member 8 through its inwardly projecting peripheral edge portion which overlays the edges of the designer insert seated within the pouch. This double edge frame 8C which wraps over, around and under the edge portion of both sides of the top vinyl pouch member, also has a precise millimeter less of underside framing to functionally abut and guide in side edges of the insert arrays 9 and disguise/mask any raw cut insert material edges, as the edges will be covered with a precise measure more of upper-side finished framing in this precisely layered pouch. It also separates the layers thereby providing the exact space space within the pouch member for interchangeable insertion and retraction of the designer insert 9A

Since the topmost pouch or showcase are only connected to the parts that are in turn anchored to the shoe sole foot action, it is largely stress free. This topmost positioning further stabilizes the insert array area that rides above the major foot action when in motion.

As shown in FIG. 1A the pouch 8 end of the insert pouch provides the pouch opening means for insertion and withdrawal of the available variety of designer inserts. When well positioned gravitationally, insert arrays 9 need not close off as frictional engagement will suffice. However, aforementioned closures listed on page 5 are available.

FIG. 2A is an alternative vinyl centered detached male stud snap-on top layer 8F of the insert array showcase, that replicates the features of FIG. 1A 8A—as shown, and also replicates the shape of the attached 8F female stud snap-ons topmost shoe material display of FIG. 2, and is easily mountable at each male/female snap together as shown. This totally seperate showcase affords pre-loading the decorative insert array 9 prior to its mounting onto the main shoe body 1 This alternative can also have open back whose total showcase enclosure is achievable only when attached. Mounting methods can include stud snap-ons, FIG. 2A or buckles: FIG. 1 as pre-shown, or pressure sensitive releaseable fixatives, so long as they hold fast and can be easily removed. Novelty outer shaped frame vinyl pouches and showcases are also feasible.

Well known variations of the gladiator style includes any number of thin or thick multi-strapped forefoot and instep and rear foot and ankle strap areas or conversely fewer straps, and with or without rear heel portions. Heels can vary from flats to wedgies or platforms to the stiletto height as shown.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is obvious that modifications and alterations of such embodiments as to form, structure and materials will occur to others skilled in the art upon their reading and understanding of this specification. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention includes all such modifications and alterations, and equivalents thereof, being limited only by the scope of the following pre-qualified claims:

The ornamental design for insert array shoes and sandals and a detachable showcase substantially as shown and described. 

1. In woman's footwear having a sole member and forefoot retaining member anchored to said sole member: means associated with said forefoot retaining member for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts having color and design appearance for coordination with other clothing ensemble having like color and design appearance.
 2. Woman's footwear having a forefoot retaining member and means associated with said retaining member for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving, retaining and displaying said inserts comprises pouch means having a transparent outer layer of plastic sheet material through which said inserts are visible.
 3. Woman's footwear having a forefoot retaining member and means associated with said retaining member for receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forefoot retaining member is a shoe upper and said means for receiving, retaining and displaying said inserts comprises pouch means formed by said shoe upper and an overlaying layer of transparent plastic sheet material through which said inserts are visible.
 4. Woman's footwear as claimed in claim 3 wherein said layer of plastic sheet material of said pouch means is permanently affixed to said shoe upper about its side and front peripheral edges and is open at the rear edge of said upper for receiving said design inserts.
 5. Woman's footwear as claimed in claim 4 wherein said pouch means at the rear edge of said upper includes means for closing said pouch means for retaining said design inserts.
 6. Woman's footwear as claimed in claim 5 wherein the means for closing said pouch means comprises fastening means between said shoe upper an said overlaying layer of plastic sheet material at the rear edge of said upper selected from the snap fasteners, hook and eye strips, tongue and groove strips, and a tuck-in flap of said plastic sheet material, or pressure sensitive adhesives, if not frictionally pre-engaged.
 7. Woman's footwear having a forefoot retaining member and means associated with said retaining member of receiving, retaining and displaying interchangeable fashion design inserts as claimed in claim 1 wherein said forefoot retaining member is a strap and said means for receiving, retaining and displaying said inserts comprises showcase means formed by a framed overlaying layer of transparent plastic sheet material through which said inserts are visible.
 8. Woman's footwear as claimed in claim 7 wherein said layer of plastic sheet material of showcase means is temporarily affixed to said strap about its side and front peripheral edges by attachable and detachable means for receiving said design inserts.
 9. Woman's footwear as claimed in claim 8 wherein the means for closing said showcase comprises fastening means between said strap and said separate overlaying layer of plastic sheet material consists of: male stud snap ons surrounding the showcase frame attachable to the matched female stud receptors along the edges of the shoe or sandal display area.
 10. Woman's footwear as claimed in claims 1-9 wherein the ‘Insert Array’ is insertable and retractable within the permanently attached pouch and/or the detachable showcase, with transparent plastic sheet material through which said inserts are visible 